Renee Juhans July 21, 1999
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
(Phone: 202/358-1712)
Ed Campion
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
(Phone: 281/483-5111)
RELEASE: C99-b
NEW CENTER AIMS TO IMPROVE FOOD IN SPACE AND ON EARTH
NASA has selected Iowa State University, Ames, IA, to head
up research that could lead to better food for astronauts and
safer, more nutritious packaged foods for everyone.
Iowa State will head the National Food Technology Commercial
Space Center, working to improve food for long duration space
missions and to enhance the packaging, preparation and storage of
commercially produced food.
NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, will sponsor the
commercial space center. The value of the five-year cooperative
agreement is approximately $2.8 million. Commercial partners in
the center will provide additional resources in a collaborative
effort to develop the new technologies.
As space flight evolves from short-duration Space Shuttle
missions to extended habitation aboard the International Space
Station, NASA will be challenged to provide astronauts with more
palatable and more nutritious food. The Agency must also find
ways to decrease the weight of items to be carried to the station,
to reduce the on-board storage requirements and to diminish the
amount of waste produced. The development of advanced food
technologies is essential for successful long-duration missions.
Improvements in the shelf life and safety of food for space
flight could lead to similar improvements in commercially produced
and packaged food available to the public. Partnerships with the
private sector will be essential elements of the Food Technology
Center, in addition to the academic institution's own resources.
Following a 60-day cooperative agreement for detailed
definition, a five-year cooperative agreement with a possible
five-year extension will be awarded in September 1999.
-end-